Best Bug Zapper Reviews 2018

Bugs, mosquitoes and other insects are a complete nuisance to any outdoor fun. What is worse is that they can also be a problem indoors as well. There are many ways to repel or kill insects, and using bug zappers is one of them. Since these come in all shapes and sizes, we have researched different products and have come up with five of the best bug zapper brands – featuring a model from each one. Feel free to check the other products by these featured brands if none of the ones we have showcased meet your requirements. By the way, if you’re looking for a portable bug zapper, check out our camping bug zapper review – it includes some paddle style and smaller units that are perfect for home and yard use too, especially if you don’t want to set up a zapper permanently in one location.

Overview

PROS

CONS

SPECS

Type

Size

Coverage

Power

Extras

Our Top Choice

Flowtron Model BK-80D Electronic Insect Killer - 1-1/2 Acres

Coming from a well-known outdoor products company, this Flowtron Electronic Insect Killer will keep your home or backyard bug free for a reasonable price!

Non-clogging killing grid. Weatherproof construction but can also be used inside your home.

The light can be too bright, so make sure you install it somewhere where this won't be a problem (i.e. away from your bedroom).

Indoor and outdoor

10 x 10 x 15.5 inches, 7.9 pounds

1 - 1/2 acres

80 watts

Waterproof construction

Best Value

Hoont Powerful Electronic Indoor Bug & Insects Zapper

Compact and packing a powerful exterminating punch, the Hoont electronic bug zapper is a nifty little contraption that will get rid of the annoying insects for you once and for all!

A compact and lightweight design. Large area coverage.

The zap sound can be a bit loud.

Indoor only

19.2 x 13 x 5.3 inches, 4.1 pounds

6000 square feet

Two 10 watt bulbs

Maintenance free

Stinger 5-in-1 Insect & Mosquito Zapper

Featuring an elegant design with a purplish light in the middle, this Stinger Insect Zapper is a fashion accessory for your living room as much as it is a bug zapper!

A company dedicated to killing bugs. A sleek and compact design. Black UV light. Green LED lights.

The cord could have been a bit longer.

Outdoor only

9.8 x 8.8 x 20.1 inches, 4.8 pounds

1 acre

5,500 volts zapping power

Sundown sensor option

Aspectek Indoor Insect Killer Bug Zapper 20W

Small and plucky, this Aspectek Insect Killer offers a chemical-free means of getting rid of pretty much all kinds of flying insects!

How Do I Choose the Best Bug Zapper?

It‘s summer, and you have the perfect evening weather. All you want to do is sit on your porch and read a book, chat with your family or friends, or just lay outside and have a time of reflection. Everything is set and you are about to start having fun. Then you hear a buzzing sound. Bugs! One option is to use an insect fogger or one of the many insect repellant sprays available on the market, many of which don’t use harsh chemicals. But what happens if you are allergic, don’t want to put anything on your child’s sensitive skin or have pets you want to protect too? It is easy to think there is nothing more to do. That will mean victory for the bugs.

All you need is a bug zapper, and your problem will be solved. Which bug zapper should you get? The answer to this question first depends upon where you will be using it. There are main two groups of zappers: outdoor zappers and indoor zappers. Stationary outdoor zappers cover a wide range of areas, depending upon the size of the unit. They are also available in smaller, portable sizes which are great for camping or when you don’t need one all the time. Indoor zappers are used indoors because they cover a smaller area. Some zappers serve for both outdoors and indoors.

Within these two categories, there are several types of bug zappers:

Insect traps: These ones are for people who do not like to hear the “zap” sound the insects make when they come in contact with the zappers. These types draw the insects with light and then suck them into a vacuum. They remain there till they die of dehydration or starvation. The unit is cleaned out afterwards.

Electronic zappers: These zappers lure the insects and electrocute them. They have trays at the bottom of the unit for collecting the dead insects for disposal.

Electric swatter: Often called a Mosquito Racket, this is type is great for indoors where you have occasional insects (yes, they work on flies too) or for taking with you on picnics or camping because they are extremely portable.

Solar-powered zappers: Just like all solar-powered devices and equipment, such as wristwatches, cookers, chargers, etc., these are cost-effective.

Battery-powered zappers: These zappers are powered by AA batteries or AAA batteries. Most of these units are powered by rechargeable Lithium batteries.

Zapper/lamp combo zappers: These are outdoor zappers that also serve as either porch lights or garden lights.

Before we move on to the factors and features you should consider when purchasing a bug zapper, we do want to mention that there are also ultrasonic bug repellants that can help to keep bugs away in the first place (without the use of chemicals).

Price

As with any product, price will be a top deciding factor when it comes to purchasing your bug zapper. One factor that will impact the price significantly is the coverage area (and with this, the power of the unit). For a good quality bug zapper, you can expect to pay somewhere in the range of $20 to $200, depending on your needs.

Many of the more expensive models have additional features not offered by the less expensive ones. They offer larger coverage zones, and use more effective attractants and/or repellents. Very cheap bug zappers are to be avoided, as they may break and/or potentially cause a fire hazard, plus they tend to be less effective against the swarm of insects that may hit them.

Features

In addition to considering you budget, you need to choose a bug zapper that is right for where you will be using it. Some are better for certain environments or climates than others. You will also need to take a look at how the unit will be powered. Do you want an electric insect killer, or you would rather have a solar- or battery-powered option?

In this guide, we will look at a few features that are required for different types of zappers, and other requirements you will want to consider before buying one. The features to look out for in your bug zappers include the following:

Weather resistance – If it will be outdoors, it needs to withstand different weather conditions

Mobility and portability – Is it fixed or movable?

Expendable materials – Repeller mats, batteries, bait tablets, etc.

Working mode – Day and (or) night

Warranty – Details of the warranty

Construction and Design

Users of bug zappers are quick to consider user safety, the quality of the zapper’s construction, and how easy it is to maintain. While you want a bug zapper that protects you from accidentally touching the wires and getting shocked, you also want the zapper to be able to lure insects. Look for a safe zapper, where the wires will let in insects, but not fingers. You should also consider a bug zapper that can be cleaned and maintained easily.

If you are looking for an outdoor zapper, consider whether you want it fixed in your garden or lawn, or mobile so you can use it both indoors and outdoors. Most manufacturers make zappers that can be fixed in the garden like a lamp post, so that they can serve as garden lights too. You may want to consider how weather-resistant your outdoor zapper is. You do not want to mount a zapper that may rust after it rains.

The cost of expendable materials for your zapper may add to the cost of the zapper itself. If you have to replace repeller mats, bait tablets or batteries every month, the cost of maintenance will increase. Consider the frequency of replacement for your consumables before deciding on a particular zapper.

Before making your purchase, have you considered the additional features you will want your bug zapper to have? What type of chemical attractants and repellents should it use? Do you want it to have a timer? Will you be comfortable with the level of noise it makes, or is it something that may make you jump out of your skin? If you get one with a lower sound, will it be as effective as the high-sounding zappers?

Performance and Ease of Use

Bug zappers are either powered by electricity, batteries or solar power. If your outdoor zapper is electricity powered, you'll need to have electrical connections around the location of the zapper. This may turn out to be cumbersome. If, however, you have little or no access to electricity, consider either the rechargeable or AA battery-powered options. The best options for outdoor zappers are generally the solar-powered ones.

You also need to know the working mode your desired zapper operates in. Does it run in day mode, day and night mode, or just night mode? This information will help you know whether it suits the time of the day you want to use it for. Most zappers work in night mode. You need to also know the running time of your battery-powered zappers. You do not want to be outside barbecuing or camping and suddenly have your zapper run out of power. The bugs would be having a feast that night, and guess who the meal would be? Li-ion battery powered zappers last for up to three days on average.

One other factor you need to consider when purchasing your zapper is the coverage range. What is the use of a bug zapper if it does not cover the distance you need it to, especially if you are not the only one sitting around it? Most zapper makers include information on the range the zapper covers. Be sure that it covers the right range for your needs.

Find out what types of insects are peculiar to your environment, and whether your ideal zapper can catch such insects. Fireflies, houseflies, mosquitoes, gnats, and wasps are some of the insects you may want your buzz zapper to catch and fry. You need to be sure that any bug zapper you buy can kill these insects if they are common in your area.

What is the Best Bug Zapper?

Now that you're done reading our buying guide, you should be clear in your mind as to the features you want your bug zapper to have. Figure out your budget first, and then peruse our list, keeping an eye out for a setup which will best suit your needs. Join us now as we explore five of the best bug zappers for your yard or home.

Our Top Choice

Rugged and rust-free, this insect killer from Flowtron can be a great solution for your backyard in any weather condition - all year round! If you need a heavy-duty model for larger areas or to use while camping, the Diplomat Fly Control Device might be the perfect tool for the job!

Flowtron Bug Zapper BK-80D

Features

Having started out as an automobile radio-manufacturing company back in the year of 1920, Armatron International took the market by the storm thanks to the innovative design solutions and durable products. Its offspring - Flowtron is nowadays a world-renowned company producing one top-notch outdoors-related product after another.

Their work philosophy revolves around utilizing the best available technologies of the day and combining them with some new designs of their own creation. As a result, their products have a reputation for being tough 'n' sturdy, doing their job efficiently and to a T in any given environment! The Flowtron Electronic Insect Killer featured on this list could as well be their flagship model, as it espouses their tenacious hard-working values in every way. It looks like a Victorian street lantern enhanced with a powerful 80 Watt light bulb designed to positively decimate each and every disease-carrying insect within its reach!

Here's a list of features of this Flowtron bug zapper:

Easy bulb replacement

Rugged weatherproof construction

USDA-tested Octenol mosquito attractant

Vertical rod killing grid system

Two-year limited warranty

All in all, a sturdy outdoors contraption that will not only destroy your local mosquito population, but also look good doing it. The two powerful light bulbs combine with an efficient grid system to make for a mean-lookin' and destructively effective lantern to be reckoned with (if you're an insect)!

As a product of an impassioned crew concentrated on building powerful and reasonably-priced insect and rodent-killing utensils, the Hoont bug zapper features a construction that is as sturdy as it is simple! Looking for something smaller and less obvious for your home? Check out Hoont’s Plug-in Spider and Bed Bug Pest Repeller that even has a night light.

Hoont Bug Zapper HNT-IK-01-Sticker-required

Features

The Hoont company operates and produces its many bear traps, raccoon repellents and insect zappers based on a rather simple working principle that revolves around efficiency and tenacity when it comes to vermin removal. Each of their products is a result of a passionate and dedicated designing process.

The main idea is to come up with a high-quality product, powerful and reasonably-priced so that everyone can afford one. The bug-exterminating model we're presenting to you here is a typical Hoont product in every respect, and its beauty lies in its simplicity.

The high-tech power units behind the successful killing sprees of this model are two 10 Watt bulbs emitting ultraviolet light. This part of the contraption attracts the insects, which are then blasted by the electrically-charged metal grid, turning the pesky disease-carrying bugs into scorched spots!

Here's a list of features for this Hoont bug zapper:

Detachable chain

Can be mounted on a wall

Features a collecting tray at the bottom

Non-clogging

Spreads light in all four directions

Sturdy carrying rings

Simple and efficient, this Hoont insect-killing apparatus could be the perfect solution for your bug-infected indoors area! It also works outdoors, just make sure that the place you position it is protected from rain and other harsh weather conditions!

If you require an efficient and versatile bug-eliminating device that is also aesthetically pleasing, this Stinger insect zapper could be your new weapon of choice against these annoying bugs! For killing bugs at a greater distance, check out the 3-in-1 Kill System, also from Stinger!

Stinger Bug Zapper BK500

Features

Sporting an edgy and elegant appearance, this Stinger Insect Killer has a mysterious dark finish to its housing that when combined with the milky purple light coming from inside to attract its prey creates a beautiful piece of room décor, despite its ulterior motive.

The Stinger company has been responsible for a number of high-quality products pertaining to the essential purpose of eliminating annoying and often disease-carrying insects. As a part of one of their more recent product series, this insect & mosquito zapper features a number of innovative properties installed to make sure that not one bug passes its defense lines.

To achieve the high-efficiency goal they placed before themselves, the Stinger crew incorporated not 3, not 4, but 5 different insect-eliminating methods in one little device! Some of these are the UV light setup, the octenol lures and the powerful clog-free killing grid!
Here's a more detailed list of features of this powerful Stinger contraption:

A powerful 5-in-1 killing system

Advanced black light technology

Sundown sensor

Simple Plug & Go operation

Kid-proof outer enclosure

Made from weather-proof plastic

Nylon hanging cord included

Nylon hanging cord included

All in all, a powerful little device for eliminating all kinds of insects! Packing a powerful punch with 5 different methods to remove your pests, this Stinger zapper is perhaps one of the best solutions currently on the market. Most importantly, it is completely safe around children and pets! What's not to love?

Coming from a Canada-based company passionate about making gardening accessories and insect-killing contraptions, this Aspectek Bug Zapper is a solid piece of metal grid construction that does its job like a charm! If you need a more powerful solution, (two times as powerful to be precise) this 40Watt version may be just what you want!

Aspectek Bug Zapper HR292-1

Features

From its humble beginnings as a Canadian family-run business in the year of 2006, the Milo Enterprises Incorporated has expanded into the proper multinational corporation that it is today, providing a range of high-end products to their sizeable customer base. Mostly, they specialize in creating pest control-related utensils, but they've been also been known to manufacture a barbecue grid or two from time to time.

The driving force behind their impressive production numbers is their ambitious work philosophy, which highlights three major factors contributing to their success: 1) creative designs, 2) streamlined processes, and 3) Canadian roots (no one deals with mosquitoes quite like the Canadians). Also, they take great pride in their polite and efficient customer service!

As for the bug zapper in question, it sports a simple, pet-safe construction with a protection cage, and an easily-removable and washable tray for collecting the corpses of the insects fallen who have fallen victim to the powerful UV light sources. You can hang it on a wall if you prefer it that way - it will destroy the nearby insect population just as effectively!
Here's a list of features of the Aspectek bug zapper:

Chemical-free

Washable collection tray

Protection cage

Wire chain for hanging

Powerful electric grid

No maintenance required

To wrap it all up, if you need a small and powerful bug-killing apparatus, but rather dislike the idea of chemical warfare, this Aspectek UV light-based grid can be a perfect solution for you! Additionally, you can pick from three different power versions- 20W, 30W, and 40W!

If you're unlucky enough to have problems with both insects AND mice, installing this device into your home may be the technological marvel you need! If you need a more powerful version that covers a larger area and with more features, then this ultrasonic repellent also from Cravegreens could be an even better option for you!

Cravegreens Bug Zapper KC-OF0001

Features

Cravegreens is a small company dedicated to producing everything related to pest control, from sprayers and traps to some of the more sophisticated entries in their sizeable anti-pest arsenal – like bug zappers and electronic plug-in repellers! While this isn't a "bug zapper" we knew it was something worth checking out since it works to prevent insects and rodents from coming around in the first place.

These anti-insect devices have many advantages over the conventional light bulb-equipped contraptions, which often emit strong light that may be harmful for humans and pets. The electronic plug-in version works by emitting a powerful ultrasonic sound, driving the nearby rodents and bugs away from your home and into the woods.

Since the working principle of this bug zapper is based on sound technology, the maintenance is a piece of cake. All you need to do is plug it in a power source in your home, and sit by as it does its job! Also included in the construction of this device is a night light that can come in handy from time to time.
The Cravegreens Ultrasonic Repellent - a feature list:

Uses advanced ultrasonic technology

Inoffensive to children and pets

Unlimited duration

No maintenance

Lifetime guarantee

Powerful and compact, this Cravegreens repellent can be a great solution for a busy person who needs a simple fix for their pest problem - it doesn't get much simpler than this ultrasonic repellent. Just plug it in, and see it annihilate your unwanted insect or mice population!

Get the Best Bug Zapper of 2018!

If you were confused about the right bug zapper for you before now, hopefully our reviews have helped you narrow down your choice to either a product or a brand. Based upon our research, any of our featured zappers would be a great choice – plus these quality brands have several other options to choose from.

Our Top Choice

Flowtron Model BK-80D Electronic Insect Killer - 1-1/2 Acres

Best Value

Hoont Powerful Electronic Indoor Bug & Insects Zapper

Stinger 5-in-1 Insect & Mosquito Zapper

Aspectek Indoor Insect Killer Bug Zapper 20W

Cravegreens Pest Control Ultrasonic Insect Repellent

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